A murder trial witness convicted of benefit fraud had her bid to remain anonymous foiled by a weekly reporter in court.

Oliver Pritchard, of The Comet, Stevenage, successfully challenged Sherry Douglas’s attempt to have an order made under Section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act.

Chat line worker Douglas was moved to Stevenage from London for her own protection around 10 years ago after appearing as a witness in a murder trial, and her solicitor claimed that naming her could have put her in danger.

However Oliver showed proof that Douglas had posted a public profile on social media site Badoo which included her name, age, that she lived in Stevenage and several pictures of her.